Khutso Sithole
Summary
Experienced Research Governance, Ethics, and Integrity professional with extensive knowledge in research ethics, governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and integrity management within a research institution. Skilled in developing and implementing ethics policies, managing ethics review systems, strengthening research compliance, and promoting responsible conduct of research. Proven ability to support multi-disciplinary research environments while ensuring adherence to national and international ethical standards.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
14
14
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Manager - Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2026
- Research Governance and Compliance
- Manage the research governance, ethics, and integrity unit by leading the institutional research governance, ethics, and integrity programmes.
- Prepare the business plan for the unit.
- Develop or update and implement research ethics policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Terms of Reference (ToR), and governance frameworks.
- Oversee ethics review processes.
- Ensure compliance with national and international regulatory requirements and institutional standards.
- Manage research misconduct allegations and integrity investigations.
- Coordinate institutional reporting and accreditations to regulatory bodies – NHREC, RIO, and FWA.
- Provide strategic guidance to ethics committees and senior leadership.
- Oversee implementation and management of review processes.
- Develop and deliver training on responsible conduct of research.
- Constitution of the Research Ethics Committee Members
- After every term of office of the Research Ethics Committee (REC), I prepare an advertisement to appoint new members to serve as REC members and renew appointments that qualify for renewal. All this process is done in line with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) guidelines, and these adverts are ratified by the REC chairperson and my executive director.
- Vet all the applications, shortlist. Then the REC members will appoint potential candidates and approve in support of the executive director. The CEO and the HSRC Board ratify the appointments.
- Provide induction alongside the REC chairperson to the new and re-appointed members.
- Make certain that all REC members obtain research ethics training on a refresher course annually.
- Research Ethics Unit Management
- Monitor that all the processes of providing the ethical clearance are aligned with the NHREC guideline.
- Update all the research ethics and integrity documents with the assistance of the REC members and the chairperson, and these are ratified by the CEO and the Board.
- Prepare the annual NHREC and RIO reports to ensure compliance with the legal obligation for REC and ensure the organization retains its registration.
- Renew and update affiliation with the Federal Wide Assurance (FWA).
- Attend the yearly NHREC meetings.
- Make certain that all the monthly REC meeting takes place as scheduled.
- Minutes, Agendas and all relevant documents are shared with the REC timely.
- All Serious Adverse Events, Violations, and Deviations are discussed by the REC, and the units that reported the matters receive feedback on time. Monitor that they apply the recommendations by the REC and track progress.
- Research Integrity and Misconducts
- Receive (via email, toll-free number) and work closely with my executive director and the legal and risk unit on those allegations or complaints regarding suspected research misconduct, depending on the severity of the matter. Some matters are referred to the CEO for further discussion. Write reports to the CEO for each case.
- Handling of a tip-off: The research office has a complaints hotline, which is independently managed and operates. All stakeholders are able to report unethical behaviour and any wrongdoing anonymously. The service provider forward complaint to the CEO and shares them with me via email. The Principal Investigator will be contacted to remedy the situation and follow up until the matter is settled, and close out reports are written and actions is taken where necessary.
- I serve as an HSRC Research Integrity Officer (RIO) since 2021. My deliverable is to submit regular progress reports of work done in respect of research integrity at HSRC to RIO.
- Report on awareness raising, in the form of workshops, which I organise with my colleagues and the executive director.
- Budget
- Prepare a budget for the unit.
- Authorise remuneration for external REC members.
- Make certain that the invoices for external applicants, when sent out, are correct.
- Make certain that our units' budget is not in deficit, and no fruitless expenditures.
- Data Management
- Maintain and update the electronic and hard copy filing system, since we still process applications manually.
- Manage a tracking register of protocols for monitoring purposes and audits.
- Keep all the files for a period of five years according to the HSRC data preservation and sharing policy.
- Website
- Update the research ethics unit page, ensuring that the website content is easy to follow and user-friendly.
- Training and Capacity Development
- August 2025 - Presented at a round table at the University of South Africa (UNISA) on all issues of research ethics.
- August 2025 – Assisted the Vaal University and Zululand on preparations for Active Monitoring.
- July 2023 - Workshopped the North West University (NWU) Research Ethics Committees members, and administrators within the NWU ON Tackling the challenges encountered by the REC administrators to ensure and promote responsible research conduct within the NWU research environment.
- March 2019 - Facilitated a one-day workshop on research ethics for a delegation from the University of Botswana.
- February 2019 - Facilitated a two-day workshop with the REC deputy-chairperson on research ethics at Sol-Plaatje University.
- Ongoing - Train the staff members individually or per unit by request on research ethics-related matters.
- Provide two global trainings annually. One on research ethics and the other on research integrity.
- Risk Management and Quality Assurance
- Identify ethical and regulatory risk and put controls in place.
- Applying standards aligned with the NHREC guidelines.
- Provide practical, actionable mitigation strategies.
- Submit risk assessment reports on time to the risk unit.
- Mentorship
- Shortlist and appoint interns, then mentor them.
- I have already mentored six interns. Three interns Masters level, two Honours level, and one undergraduate level.
- My duties are to capture annual work plans - to make certain that I share knowledge with them as much as possible. Teach them the daily running activities of the unit, expose them to other research units, research activities, or seminars of different studies in the HSRC. Generic competencies that I am required to provide are CV writing, scientific writing for publication, Microsoft Excel, project management, and good presentation skills. Prepare them well for the world of work.
- Audits:
- Prepare for the NHREC audit, which is conducted every five years.
- Respond to audit queries with the authorization of the REC chairperson.
Research Ethics Administrator
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
June 2009 - Mar 2020
- Administer the ethics application process
- Assisting HSRC research programs and external applicants in preparing submissions to the Research Ethics Committee (REC) by responding to their queries.
- Vet all the submitted protocols to see if they meet the standard of the HSRC for review.
- Support the REC Chair in convening meetings by compiling and distributing agenda packs to members on time.
- Meet deadlines for monthly meetings.
- Take minutes at the REC meetings, prepare comments to applicants/researchers, and distribute them in a timely manner to all applicants.
- Keep track of progress through the stages of revisions of applications.
- Ensure the monitoring of the implementation of the REC approvals during the process of research.
- Department of Health 2015 NHREC Guideline:
- In all the processes of ethical clearance, I ensure that the processes are aligned with the NHREC guidelines.
- Assist in updating policies and guidelines for research involving humans, to be able to guide the researchers.
- Prepare the annual NHREC report to ensure compliance with the legal obligation for research involving humans.
- Attend the yearly NHREC meeting.
- Research Integrity:
- Answer general enquiries on research integrity.
- Receive and subsequently refer allegations or complaints regarding suspected research misconduct to my manager.
- Budget:
- Make logistical arrangements for REC meetings.
- Remunerate external REC members.
- Invoice external applicants.
- Records Management:
- Maintain and update the electronic and hard copy filing system to record the duration of protocol processes for audit purposes.
- Manage a tracking register of protocols for monitoring purposes and audits.
- Ethics Training:
- Assist with logistics when preparing research ethics training
- Website:
- Update the website.
Project Manager
South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN)
2006.09 - 2009.05
- Management of the office.
- Implementation of the programmes, including organizing seminars, workshops and conferences.
- Assist the National CEO in the overall management and the successful implementation on the SAWEN strategy.
- Report monthly to the CEO on the progress made and prepare monthly reports for the board.
- Writing close out reports.
- Prepare memorandums, submissions and quotes.
- Update the SAWEN website
- Organize and plan events and meetings.
- Provide business information to SAWEN members and partners.
- Network on behalf of SAWEN.
- Manage the budget.
- Make travel arrangements, claims, arrange refreshments and preparation and booking of venues.
- Handle all enquiries, appointments, filling and correspondence.
- Compiling and maintaining data of clients.
- SAWEN is a section 21 company, its aim is to facilitate and monitor the socio-economic advancement of women entrepreneurs and their positive effect in the country’s economy.
Administrator
Williams & Calmer
2004.09 - 2006.08
- Office Administration:
- Handle all forms of correspondence, calls and visits.
- Making copies and binding of material.
- Filling, Faxing and keeping inventory for the company.
- Postage: process incoming mail and send outgoing mail.
- Prepare Board meetings, Preparing Board packs and taking minutes and organises Teleconferences for the Directors.
- Travel Arrangements for the Directors.
- Updating the company website.
- Register our company as a service provider.
- Sending and retrieving electronic mail.
- Tender Administration- fill in tender application forms, compile and deliver them personally or mail.
- Williams & Calmer is a management consultants company, which provides services and products, which can develop people, companies in order to create an economic, political and social system, which is efficient, effective and delivers a healthy society.
WOESA Administrator
Women in Oil and Energy SA (WOESA)
- Office Administration:
- Handle all general management of the WOESA Office.
- Handle all forms of Postage: process incoming mail and sending outgoing mail for WOESA members.
- Prepare Board meetings, preparing Board packs and taking minutes.
- Organising Teleconferences for WOESA Directors.
- Travel Arrangements for the WOESA Directors.
- Coordinate workshops, seminars, and conferences for the WOESA members.
- Update the WOESA website.
- Maintain data of WOESA members.
- Provide information to WOESA members and partners.
- Assist the National Co-ordinator in the overall management.
- Administering new members who join the WOESA network.
- Project Management:
- Energreen Products-it is a green gel that can be used for cooking, lighting and heating.
- Marketing the products.
- Purchasing Stock, Stock taking.
- Deliveries, Making Invoices.
- Liasing with clients.
- Research:
- Drafting Questionnaires.
- Making Calls.
- Drafting Transcripts.
- Drafting Analysis.
- Compiling a database for the research project.
- Financial Administration:
- Administering Petty Cash.
- Registration of annual, monthly tax payments and RSC Levy.
- Keep books- Capture incomes and expenditures.
- Administer all the accounts of the company.
- Team Work and Other Tasks:
- Assist in Fundraising, design a database, compile proposals and follow up Correspondence
- Draft Reports
- Personal Assistance:
- General Personal administration such as travel arrangements, keeping their diaries.
- Administer all personal administration for my Directors and manage their households.
- WOESA is a non-profit company, its aim is to facilitate and promote business opportunities for South African women in the oil, gas and other sectors
Programme Administrator
Graduate World of Work Foundation
2004.04 - 2004.08
- Office Administration:
- Secure and take full responsibility for the smooth running of the Programme Director’s office (scheduling of meetings and appointments).
- Prepare files and information required.
- Take minutes in meetings and Report writing.
- Organises meetings for the Directors.
- Handle all forms of correspondence, calls and visits;
- Production and binding of learning materials and
- Implementing and maintaining an effective and efficient up to date computerized and manual filing system of all documentation.
- Programme Support
- Create and maintain a recording system for current, future and post programme learners’ data.
- Assist with placement of programme learners for workplace experience and exit opportunity placement.
- Logistical arrangements of all programme activities and training workshops.
- Graduate World of Work Foundation is a service provider for Umsobomvu Youth Fund that provides Life and Professional Skills training in the school to work programmes (Internships).
Data Capturer
Makgaba Technology
2000.04 - 2004.04
- Capture data for Department of Labour
- Alpha and Numeric Capturing of data, Quality Control of data
Education
Master in Social Sciences - Health Research Ethics
University of Kwa Zulu-Natal - SARETI Program
2017.01 - 2022.01
Bachelor of Arts Hons - Information Science
University of South Africa
2012.01 - 2016.01
Certificate - Bookkeeping
Damelin
Bachelor of Arts - Information Science
University of Pretoria
1995.01 - 2000.01
Matric - undefined
Ekangala Comprehensive High School
Certification
- TRREE Training programmes – attained the following certificates:
- Introduction to Research Ethics; Research Ethics Evaluation.
- Informed Consent; Adolescent involvement in HIV Prevention Trials
- NIH certificate – Research Ethics
- HSRC Inhouse Training
- Basic Research Ethics certificate
- Research Integrity certificate
- Advanced Research Ethics certificate
Language Proficiency
Speak/Read /Write: English, N. Sotho and Zulu
Tswana, Afrikaans
References
- Prof Ames, Dhai, HSRC Research Ethics Chairperson, Ames.Dhai@wits.ac.za, 082 452 0179
- Dr Mokhantso, Makoae, Human Sciences Research Council, Mmakoae@hsrc.ac.za, 072 385 6941
- Dr Liapeng, Matsau, South African Qualification Authority, lmatsau@gmail.com, 082 776 4757
Timeline
Manager - Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2026
Master in Social Sciences - Health Research Ethics
University of Kwa Zulu-Natal - SARETI Program
2017.01 - 2022.01
Bachelor of Arts Hons - Information Science
University of South Africa
2012.01 - 2016.01
Research Ethics Administrator
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
June 2009 - Mar 2020
Project Manager
South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN)
2006.09 - 2009.05
Administrator
Williams & Calmer
2004.09 - 2006.08
Programme Administrator
Graduate World of Work Foundation
2004.04 - 2004.08
Data Capturer
Makgaba Technology
2000.04 - 2004.04
Bachelor of Arts - Information Science
University of Pretoria
1995.01 - 2000.01
WOESA Administrator
Women in Oil and Energy SA (WOESA)
Certificate - Bookkeeping
Damelin
Matric - undefined
Ekangala Comprehensive High School